MEMBERS STATEMENTS: WESTERN SUBURBS HEALTH SERVICES

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (09:41:13) — I rise to update the house on substantial investments the Andrews Labor government has made towards world-class health care in my electorate of Werribee in Melbourne’s western suburbs. Late last year I had the pleasure of joining the then Minister for Health, the member for Altona, to open the $85 million Werribee Mercy Hospital upgrade, providing the Wyndham community with the modern facilities that they both need and deserve. The local hospital is now home to Wyndham’s first critical care unit and eight critical care beds, six new operating theatres and 64 extra inpatient beds. This was soon followed by the opening of 54 additional mental health beds. The Andrews Labor government is delivering first-class health care, not only in my electorate of Werribee but right across Melbourne’s west. Our investments include $200 million for Western Health Sunshine and a further $29.6 million for a new emergency department, $1.5 billion to reconstruct Footscray Hospital, $2.3 million to plan for a new hospital in Melton, along with the construction of 10 new community hospitals, including one in Wyndham. I look forward to these commitments coming to fruition to ensure our young and growing community has access to world-class care facilities close to home.